New officials will be sworn in Thursday

Newly and re-elected county officials will be one step closer to assuming their respective roles after partaking in a swearing in ceremony Thursday morning.
Officials will gather at the Oktibbeha County Courthouse Annex, located at 108 West Main St., about 9 a.m., and the official ceremony will begin shortly after.
Outgoing Circuit Clerk Angie McGinnis said Judge Lee Howard will officially preside over the event. In all, the ceremony should last about 30 minutes, she said. A reception will follow.
“Normally what we do is we have a general welcome, a recognition of special guests, an introduction and then we’ll start swearing in the next term of representatives,” she said. “We’ll start with countywide officials, then do the new county board of supervisors, the justices and the constables.”
McGinnis said the following representatives will be sworn in: Monica Banks, chancery clerk; Glenn Hamilton, circuit clerk; Allen Morgan, tax assessor; Steve Gladney, sheriff; Roy Carpenter Jr., county attorney; Michael Hunt, coroner; James Covington Jr., superintendent of education; Tom Gregory, surveyor; John Montgomery, District 1 supervisor; Orlando Trainer, District 2 supervisor; Marvell Howard, District 3 supervisor; Daniel Jackson, District 4 supervisor; Joe Williams, District 5 supervisor; William Anton “Tony” Boykin Jr., District 1 justice court judge; W. Bernard Crump, District 2 justice court judge; James “Jim” Mills, District 3 justice court judge; Shank Phelps, District 1 constable; Curtis Randle, District 2 constable; and James Lindsey, District 3 constable.
Two incoming officials, Gladney and Montgomery, both said they are anxious to get to work serving the citizens of Oktibbeha County. Both have recently attended work sessions in Jackson in preparation for their new roles.
“I’m excited about serving. I know it’s a big responsibility, but I’m looking forward to the challenge and going back to work,” Gladney said. “Once in office, I’d like to sit down with the personnel one-on-one, get their thoughts and get going. With grand jury and court starting, it’s going to start busy.”
Montgomery said he’s ready to shed his supervisor-elect title and take an active leadership role for District 1. Although Montgomery serves as a firefighter for the Starkville Fire Department, he said he hopes to balance the dual public servant roles.
“Right now as supervisor-elect, it’s almost like I’ve been ready to go but I’m not there yet. I look forward to being a supervisor because when someone needs me, I want to be there for them like I am with the fire department,” he said. “Helping people is something I enjoy, and that’s why I put my name in the hat to begin with. I want to do the best job that I can and the best things I can for Oktibbeha County.”